ACTIVISM SUCCESS STORIES

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

FEDERAL FRIDAYS

Fiscal
Cliff: The Graph. The Washington Post has published a very
informative graphic about the
possible impact going over the so-called fiscal cliff would have on the
economy.

Détente? There
appears to be a thaw
happening over this issue between GOP leadership and the president.
Senate budget committee chair Senator Kent Conrad is optimistic
that a deal will be reached. Meanwhile legislators are working on an
omnibus bill for the remainder of the current fiscal year budget.
Here is the outline
from one group to achieve over $300 billion in health care savings.

ACA
Challenges Ahead.
There are five
primary targets for slowing down or stopping parts of the Affordable Care
Act: Medicaid, Subsidies, Taxes, IPAB, and Insurance Rules/Regs.

Obama
Cabinet Changes.
It is expected that many cabinet secretaries will be changing
in the coming months including Treasury, State, Defense, and Justice among
others. No word yet on a possible change at HHS.

New
‘Polling’ Methodology. For two election cycles now, Hibbing MN
native Nate Silver (FYI – Bob Dylan is also from Hibbing) has been spot on with
his
election predictions which have a different methodology than traditional
polling, and is proving more accurate than traditional polling.

Ballot
Initiatives.
Many states already allow for medicinal marijuana even though it is still a
violation of federal law. During the election two states passed
initiatives to legalize recreational use (Washington and Colorado). One
issue relating to medicinal use centers on insurance
coverage.

Exchanges,
etc.
HHS is in the process of issuing or has issued regulations on a host of health
reform topics including essential health benefits and health insurance
exchanges. Here’s an article
explaining exchanges. Here is a consumer’s
guide to the health law that is helpful.

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